Need Advise, Craftsman 5176

[M6erfan]

I've got a line on a '50s Craftsman 5176 Vise. Did some searching and not a lot of info other than some references to Dunlap?

Looking for a smallish vice for my shop, general auto mechanic and homeowner type of stuff...

Anyway, it's in excellent condition, seller wants $75 for it. How does it stack up against say a Reed or Wilton of this size/vintage?

 

[jakemac]

I think we're going to need some pictures to evaluate its worth.

 

[M6erfan]

At this point, I'm more interested to know if it's a good solid vise, than worth. Don't have any pics at present...

 

[T45]

Search turned up a couple things, maybe of interest

This says 3 1/2 inch jaw...

 

[M6erfan]

Search turned up a couple things, maybe of interest

Yep, saw that too. Thanks, but doesn't address my questions...

 

[ganymede]

I think it's a medium duty vise with stamped steel slide.
Better than contemporary box store junk but not made for the machine shop use that old style heavy duty Reeds were.

 

[jakemac]

As said, this should do well for most of what you said you want it for, but I wouldn't use it for heavy beating. Also, DON'T use it to press berings. No vise should be used that way, but some vises can handle more lateral force than others. This vise isn't one of them.

At the $75 that the seller wants the vise would need to be pristine, as in like new. I'd be more in the $40-$50 range depending on condition. That said, some areas of the country command higher prices than others due to availability of quality vise's, so adjust your estimate accordingly.

 

[Cope]

I have one that belonged to my son-in-law's grandfather. It's a stout vise, but doesn't open very wide. As already stated, it's better than the newer vises.

 

[CNGsaves]

Those particular Craftsman vises are sought after . . .
. . . . . both the torpedo nose and snub nose.

If it's in good shape, I'd jump on it. If not for you, then some other GJer. Try to haggle the price a bit in person, but anything between $50 and $75 is fair.

I'd surely take it off your hands if in good shape !!

 

[Bobioz1]

Those are weak vises even in a home owner environment. The slides bend easy. That's a $15.00 garage sale vise. Similar Reed/Wilton could crush it.

 

[M6erfan]

Wow, opinion range from stout to weak, hmmmmm

Anyway, here's a pic...



Not pristine but looks to be in, and described as, excellent shape.

 

[Cope]

Wow, opinion range from stout to weak, hmmmmm

Anyway, here's a pic...



Not pristine but looks to be in, and described as, excellent shape.

Looks very clean to me. I think I'd go for it for your purpose. Thanks for posting the pic., now I know what it looked like new.

 

[Bcom]

Those old craftsmans have a particular problem with the dynamic jaw support breaking off them. Common problem. Heres a 5196 for sale in cleveland for $20. Its broken as well.

image ru

 

[CNGsaves]

Damn OP . . . . that C-Man vise looks great.

Go snag that sucker !!! You are NOT going to get this chance again for $75 for collectible vise like that.

Again, I'll buy it no problem for $50 to $75 if you don't want it.

 

[WWShop]

Cool looking vise. I would be all over that.

 

[davethorik]

Those old craftsmans have a particular problem with the dynamic jaw support breaking off them. Common problem. Heres a 5196 for sale in cleveland for $20. Its broken as well.

image ru

Looks like the vise the op is talking about doesn't have that support in the ad.

I would buy it and flip it on here. You could find a better vise for less money, and the people here for whatever reason worship Craftsman vises.

 

[drivesitfar]

M6: yep the Craftsman you are looking at is not a heavy duty vise, but I've seen many on very handy guy's benches that work great for them. the other vise BCOM posted is 519x series vise which would be my first choice of Craftsman vises to buy/own. they probably were made by Rock Island and are great. i'm not sure what Bcom is saying about jaw support breakage, but i looks like the swivel base on his isn't on correctly. i'd buy that one in Cleveland as fast as i could for $20 even if just for the parts.

if you want to pass on that vise, but like Craftsman vises might i suggest trying to find a 519x series vise or a Craftsman made by Rock Island or Reed that were both made prior to WWII and very nice vises.

good luck and even though you might know i don't need a vise i'd pay $40-50 for that Craftsman just to add to my shelf and probably give or sell to a client or friend or member that loves old Craftsman stuff.

 

[Bcom]

This is what breakage im talking about

 

[drivesitfar]

BCOM: looks like it was dropped or a REALLY Big F'n hammer. first 519x that i've seen like that. you say you see that often? i'd still pick it up for $20 for the parts and save it to fix another vise or make this one better with another parts vise.

thanks

 

[Bcom]

My apologies to the op. I read the post as 5196 and not 5176. My bad.

 

[M6erfan]

My apologies to the op. I read the post as 5196 and not 5176. My bad.

No problem, I caught it...

Made the seller an offer, haven't heard back yet...

 

[Bcom]

BCOM: looks like it was dropped or a REALLY Big F'n hammer. first 519x that i've seen like that. you say you see that often? i'd still pick it up for $20 for the parts and save it to fix another vise or make this one better with another parts vise.

thanks

You really think its still worth a $20? The support bar is broken off. What do you guys call the piece in here? I thought it was dynamic support bar. What do you call it?

 

[drivesitfar]

M6: good luck

Bcom: the bar part threw me off plus the first picture didn't show the break like the second picture did. since you sell a $1 dust cap on a Wilton to guys for $28 that is a heckuva lot nicer and better built you for one should know the value of parts.

ok the static is toast so pull off the jaws and if in decent shape there is $20 easy. dynamic especially with good screw and vise nut and any of those parts are worth $20 to a guy needing one or all. swivel base. or just buy to keep until you find another 519x vise to use them on. the 5196 vise nut works for the 5197 too and i still think the 519x's are maybe one of the nicest user vises made that you can buy for under $500. if you start spending more than that then you get into the Reed and Wilton C series and a few other brands that have combination with pipe jaws. or a big 6 inch 140+ pounder isn't hard to like in anybody's shop.

cheers

 

[Bcom]

Well the dude is 100+ miles from me. Id grab it if i could

 

[drivesitfar]

BCOM: probably wouldn't go to far out of my way for it, but 100 miles isn't far especially if you find other STUFF to get on the way there and back.

 

[Bcom]

M6: good luck

Bcom: the bar part threw me off plus the first picture didn't show the break like the second picture did. since you sell a $1 dust cap on a Wilton to guys for $28 that is a heckuva lot nicer and better built you for one should know the value of parts.



cheers

I wish i could get my dust caps for a dollar but to tell you the truth,i only make a couple dollars on each one. I was mostly just selling them to help out other GJ members with their Wilton builds

 

[drivesitfar]

Bcom: I surely didn't mean your Wilton dust caps were that cheap or not worth the asking price. I meant to say which obviously came across wrong that some guys use $1 freeze plugs for same part replacement. Ok??

 

[Joe Bendix]

Who made the Craftsman bullet /torpedo nose vises? -Joe

 

[drivesitfar]

Probably Wilton but might have been made in Taiwan (or Japan or China).